Wasting their time?

I refer to the planning application for 35 houses in Castle Lane, Woodbury, which was the subject of Sean Keywood’s article in the January 24 issue.

I attended the parish council meeting, together with several other villagers.

The various objections were outlined and we were told that there had been more than 400 written objections, plus a 99-name petition.

The most important items in all of the objections were:

● The safety of the children attending the school;

● Capacity of the school to accommodate an estimated 28-60 extra children;

● The ability of the local surgery to serve the extra people;

● The flooding and ability of the drainage system to cope.

Also, the proposed development was outside the limits of the village.

The Government requirement is for some 35 houses to be built by 2020, therefore the extra homes in the application, plus the 14 affordable homes already approved in Town Lane, also against the parish council’s decision, are way in excess of this figure.

There is not the need for this many homes in the village, indeed the last development has holiday homes within it, and it appears these are empty for part of the year.

The absorption of approximately around 200 extra people would change the character of the village for ever.

According to the information given to the meeting, the Highways Authority suggested a pavement be built opposite the school entrance – what good this would be no-one could make out. Indeed it would cause more chaos.

The authority seemed to ignore totally the safety of the children when construction vehicles would be passing through what is a very restricted space.

The parish councillors rejected the application, but the comment was made that ‘whatever was decided by the councillors would count for nothing as East Devon would do whatever it wanted’.

What a sad state of affairs! Our parish councillors seem to have been wasting their time!

The East Devon councillors would do well to remember that it is we, the people, who put them in their positions and that they are only elected to respond to the peoples’ wishes.

Does the safety of our children count for nothing? In the opinion of those protesting, this is of paramount importance and should take priority over any development or housing requirements.